Vice presidential aspirant Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City said yesterday that she was negative to any illegal substances after taking a drug test on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
“This test, I took voluntarily upon the request of my Uniteam partner, Senator Bongbong Marcos, to support the call for transparency as aspiring public officials seeking the trust of our fellow Filipinos,” Duterte said in a press statement.
Candidates for the top national post in the 2022 elections have started to voluntarily take drug tests in an apparent reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte’s disclosure that a presidential candidate has been hooked to use of cocaine, known as the drug of choice of rich illegal substance abusers.
Reporma presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III visited the laboratory of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday to have themselves tested. Both showed PDEA laboratory certificates indicating negative results.
Promdi’s standard bearer Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao released to the media the negative results of two drug tests taken on him in July and September by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
On Tuesday, Marcos, who is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, sent to the PDEA a copy of the negative findings of the drug tests he undertook at the St. Lukes Medical Center.
On Wednesday, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso requested the PDEA to test him.
For her part, Vice President Leni Robredo who is seeking the presidency said drug tests among presidential candidates should be “random.”
Mayor Duterte said she and Marcos stand “united and unequivocal” against illegal drugs.
“This can be seen from both our negative tests as well as our common stance against the proliferation of illegal drugs and the need for effective measures of prevention, rehabilitation, and enforcement,” she said in her statement.
The presidential daughter stated: “As important as the war against illegal drugs is, other compelling issues continue to challenge our country’s ability to provide long-term safety and security for our people. Therefore, it is crucial in this electoral season that we focus on the substantial qualifications of those that seek to lead our country. Particularly, that we examine our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates under the lens of competence and experience – an infallible ability to manage crisis through policy and practice built up through years of executive, legislative, and administrative exposure; a proven track record of delivering security and development; and a clear and tested platform for job security and sustainable livelihood.”